Favorite topics

Rebounding and defense key win at Knox

Freshman Marissa Pezzopane came off the bench to record game highs in points (18) and rebounds (13) as Augustana defeated Knox 83-56 in non-conference action on Wednesday, November 21 in Galesburg, Illinois.

GALESBURG, Ill. - A huge rebounding advantage and a stingy defense led the way as Augustana defeated Knox 83-56 in non-conference women's basketball action on Wednesday, November 21 in Galesburg, Illinois. The Vikings also got a tremendous individual effort from freshman Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) en route to notching their first road victory of the season.

First year head coach Mark Beinborn's team pounded the Prairie Fire on the boards, holding a mammoth 71-30 advantage in rebounding. When it came to defense, the Vikings were solid there as well, limiting Knox to just .198 shooting from the field (17-86), including a .136 (6-44) performance from three point range.

Pezzopane had her most productive game so far in an Augustana uniform as she scored a game-high 18 points and led all rebounders with 13. She was 9-12 from the floor and also had an assist, a steal and four blocked shots.

Augustana roared out to a 14-0 lead with the game barely five minutes old (14:52) and never looked back in posting the fairly easy victory. In the first half the largest margin was 20 points (32-12 with 5:35 to play) and the halftime advantage was 13 (44-31).

In the second half it was more of the same as the Vikings went on a 19-9 run over the first 10 minutes to build the advantage to 23 points (63-40) and maintained that throughout. Pezzopane was joined in double figures by sophomore Kayla Boers (Oswego East HS, Oswego, Ill.) with 12 points and junior Amy Hicks (Rockford Christian HS, Rockford, Ill.) with 10. Hicks also pulled down 10 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. Boers chipped in with six rebounds.

Junior point guard Molly Etheridge (Normal Community HS, Bloomington, Ill.) had six points with eight rebounds, six assists and a steal. Freshman Andrea McNally (Hinsdale South HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) had six points with eight rebounds. Senior Gianna Pecora (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) just missed being in double figures in scoring with nine points.

Augustana shot .514 (36-70) from the floor and managed to survive 47 turnovers in the game.